Jinja Hospital's Oxygen Plant Breakdown Halts Vital Services

Jinja Regional Referral Hospital is facing a critical shortage of medical oxygen following the prolonged breakdown of its oxygen production plant, which has been out of order for approximately four months.

This disruption has forced the hospital to arrange costly transportation of oxygen cylinders from Namanve and Kayunga, incurring expenses of up to Shs750,000 per trip, often multiple times a week. The plant, which has the capacity to produce 250 cylinders daily, was vital for meeting the hospital’s needs and supplying oxygen to lower-level health facilities in the region.

Dr. Yayi Alfred, the hospital director, highlighted the strain this is placing on the hospital’s budget and the critical need for the plant’s repair. The delay in restoration is partly attributed to the need to source spare parts from outside Uganda, despite the plant being serviced by Global Gases.

Members of Parliament on the Health Committee expressed concern during a recent visit, emphasizing the essential nature of oxygen supply. Jinja City Woman MP Sarah Lwansasula noted that the reliance on external suppliers for parts and services points to a need for local solutions. The committee is pushing for increased funding to address such critical equipment maintenance issues.

Adding to the facility’s challenges, the hospital’s CT scan has also been non-functional for two months, compelling patients to seek services from private facilities at a higher cost. These issues underscore broader concerns about healthcare service delivery and infrastructure maintenance at the referral hospital.

Read more: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/jinja-hospital-oxygen-plant-breakdown-disrupts-services-5587318